Playing card supply method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method for supplying playing cards ( 12 ) in which indicia carried by the cards ( 12 ) is derived or selected randomly and applied to the cards ( 12 ) prior to dealing. The indicia carried by the cards ( 12 ) is removed after the game is played thereby allowing the cards ( 12 ) to be reused and have further randomly derived indicia to be applied. The apparatus ( 10 ) for use in the method includes a card delivery chute ( 26 ), an indicia removing device ( 25 ), a card storage device ( 11 ) in which cards ( 12 ) are stacked, and an image applying device for applying indicia to the cards ( 12 ) for delivery to a card feeding device ( 24 ) for playing a game. The method and apparatus may be applied to other game playing pieces and the cards and pieces may be in many different configurations and include an electronic display for displaying indicia.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplyingplaying or gaming cards or playing pieces as used for example forplaying card or other games in gambling establishments but not limitedto that use. The present invention also relates to playing or gamingcards or pieces for playing card or other games.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Casinos and other gambling establishments use conventionalplaying cards for playing a number of card games for example blackjackand poker. Usually a number of decks of playing cards are provided ateach gaming table with the cards being either shuffled by hand or bymachine prior to being dealt to the players. One problem encountered inthis conventional arrangement is that the effectiveness of the shuffledepends upon the skill of the dealer or the efficiency of the cardshuffling machine to ensure that cards dealt are arranged randomly andthis is often impossible or very difficult to achieve. Further as afinite number of cards are used in the decks that are shuffled, aproblem of card counting can arise in that skilled individuals can countthe cards being dealt to relatively accurately predict the next card tobe dealt. Particular cards can also be susceptible to being marked whichleads to potential cheating. A further disadvantage of the knownarrangements is that a large number of decks of cards are used and decksof cards are required to be regularly replaced which leads to asubstantial cost to the gambling establishment.

[0003] Gaming cards carrying pre-printed material such as bingo cardsare also used for playing gambling games in gambling or otherestablishments. Such cards usually have a one-off use and thus arerequired to be discarded after use. Other games use playing pieces orother tokens which carry an identifying marking with the pieces ortokens being dealt to a player and the player gambling in accordancewith the piece or token received and/or expected to be received. Suchgames encounter the same disadvantages outlined above in relation toplaying card games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention aims in one aspect to provide a method andapparatus for supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing acard game or other game such that the respective cards or piecessupplied carry randomly derived or selected indicia. The presentinvention aims in a further aspect to provide a method and apparatus forsupplying playing or gaming cards or pieces carrying removable indiciathereon. The present invention in yet a further aspect aims to provide amethod and apparatus for supplying and reusing playing or gaming cardsor pieces. The present invention in yet a further aspect aims to provideplaying or gaming cards or pieces for playing card or other games. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description.

[0005] The present invention thus provides in a first aspect, a methodof supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card gameor other game, said method including the steps of providing a pluralityof carrier members, applying indicia to each said carrier member suchthat each said carrier member defines a said playing or gaming card orpiece with said applied indicia defining the identity of said playing orgaming card or piece, each said indicia for application to said carriermembers being derived or selected randomly, supplying said carriermembers for use as playing or gaming cards or pieces in a game, andremoving said applied indicia from said carrier members to enable saidcarrier members to be reused.

[0006] The playing or gaming cards or pieces defined by the carriermembers may comprise physical playing or gaming cards or pieces as wellas visual representations of playing or gaming cards or pieces asdisplayed for example on a monitor or other display device. The term“indicia” as used throughout the specification includes known indicia asused on playing or gaming cards or pieces including in the case ofplaying cards, the suit of a card, and value information including courtcard information as well as electronic representations thereof. Thus thecard indicia may range from say an ace of clubs to a king of spades andinclude all suits and all values of conventional playing cards. In thecase of gaming cards, the indicia may comprise numbers or othermarkings, symbols or characters as well as electronic representationsthereof and similarly in the case of playing or gaming pieces.

[0007] In a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus forsupplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card game orother game, said apparatus including storage means for storing aplurality of carrier members, means for randomly generating or selectingindicia for application to each said carrier members, means for applyingsaid indicia to each said carrier member whereby each said carriermembers defines a said playing or gaming card or piece, said appliedindicia defining the identity of a said playing or gaming card or piece,means for supplying said carrier members carrying said indicia forplaying a card game or other game, and means for removing said appliedindicia from said carrier members to enable said carrier members to bereused.

[0008] The present invention in yet a further aspect provides a methodof supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card gameor other game, said method including the steps of providing a pluralityof carrier members, applying indicia to each said carrier memberswhereby each said carrier member defines a playing or gaming card orpiece and such that said indicia are displayed temporarily by saidcarrier members, each said indicia applied to each said carrier memberbeing derived or selected randomly and defining the identity of a saidplaying or gaming card or piece, and supplying said carrier members foruse as playing or gaming cards or pieces in a card game or other game.

[0009] In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatusfor supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card gameor other game, said apparatus including means for storing a plurality ofcarrier members, means for randomly generating or deriving indiciadefining the identity of a playing or gaming card or piece, means forapplying said indicia to each said carrier members whereby each saidcarrier member defines a playing or gaming card or piece and such thatsaid indicia are displayed temporarily by said carrier members, andmeans for supplying said carrier members for use in playing a card gameor other game.

[0010] The present invention in yet a further aspect provides a methodfor reusing playing or gaming cards or pieces, said method including thesteps of providing a supply of a plurality of carrier members adapted tocarry indicia defining the identity of a playing or gaming card orpiece, randomly deriving or selecting indicia to be carried byrespective said carrier members and causing respective carrier membersto display respective said randomly derived or selected indicia wherebyeach said carrier member defines a playing or gaming card or piece, andremoving said displayed indicia from said carrier members whereby saidcarrier members may be reused.

[0011] In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides Apparatusfor supplying and reusing playing or gaming cards or pieces, saidapparatus including means for storing a plurality of carrier membersadapted to carry indicia defining the identity of a playing or gamingcard or piece, and means for applying to said carrier members, randomlyderived or selected said indicia whereby each said carrier member formsa said playing or gaming card or piece and means for removing saidapplied indicia from said carrier members.

[0012] In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides carriermembers for use as playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing card orother games, said carrier members being adapted to carry indicia wherebyeach said carrier members defines a said playing or gaming card orpiece, said indicia carried by each said carrier member defining theidentity of a playing or gaming card or piece, said indicia beingdisplayed temporarily by said carrier members such that said carriermembers are capable of carrying respective different indicia wherebysaid carrier members may define different playing or gaming cards orpieces.

[0013] The carrier members may themselves comprise playing or gamingcards, playing pieces or other like members which carry the indicia forphysically playing a game. Alternatively, the indicia carried by therespective carrier members are used to identify respective playing orgaming cards or pieces corresponding to the indicia carried by thecarrier members.

[0014] Thus the carrier members in one aspect may comprise blank cardsformed of cardboard, plastics or other material of the size andconfiguration of conventional playing cards or gaming cards.Alternatively, the carrier members may comprise playing pieces having anarea or region which can carry identifying indicia. Where the carriermembers are of this form, the means for applying the indicia to therespective carrier members or by which the carrier members are treatedto carry the indicia may comprise means for printing or otherwiseapplying, the indicia onto the carrier members using an ink, dye orother marking medium to create an image of the indicia which isremovable from the carrier members to enable the carrier members to bereused. In the above arrangement, the card indicia may be removed bymeans which clean or wipe the ink, dye or other marking medium from thecarrier members to enable the carrier members to be reused.Alternatively, the image may be removed by chemical means, light orother physical means.

[0015] In an alternative arrangement, the indicia may be provided onstickers or other removable members and the means for applying theindicia to the respective carrier members comprise means for physicallyapplying the removable stickers or members carrying the indicia to thecarrier members. The means for removing the indicia in this aspect maycomprise means for physically removing the stickers or other memberscarrying the indicia.

[0016] In yet an alternative arrangement, the carrier members may betreated with a light sensitive material which for example may be appliedas a coating to or on the carrier members and the indicia may bedisplayed by subjecting the light sensitive material to light of aparticular pattern or having certain characteristics which enable theindicia to be displayed on the light sensitive material. Thus the lightsensitive material may comprise a photochromatic ink or coating suchthat the indicia can be displayed when exposed to a light patterncorresponding to an indicia. Alternatively, the light sensitive materialmay respond to a particular light polarization to display particularcard indicia. In yet an alternative arrangement, the light sensitivematerial may be sensitive to light of a particular frequency orfrequencies.

[0017] The image formed by the exposure of the light sensitive materialto light may only appear for a certain period of time such that whenre-exposed to a different light pattern, a new image showing a newindicia is apparent on the carrier members. Alternatively, the image maybe removed by exposing the light sensitive material to light of analternative frequency, polarization or the like.

[0018] In a further form, the light sensitive material may be replacedby a magnetically sensitive material which when subject to a magneticfield of a particular pattern will display indicia corresponding to thatpattern. Re-exposure of the magnetically sensitive material to amagnetic field of a different pattern corresponding to different indiciawill in effect “remove” the first card indicia and display the differentcard indicia. The carrier members carrying the magnetically sensitivematerial may thus be reused.

[0019] In another form, the material applied to the carrier members maycomprise a thermo chromatic material such that a particular indicia orimage to be carried by the carrier members may be displayed when thematerial is subject to heat from heat applying means which applies heatof a pattern corresponding to the particular indicia or image to bedisplayed. The indicia or image may fade after a period of time oralternatively may be effectively removed when subject to heat of adifferent pattern.

[0020] In another form, the carrier members carry an opticallyresponsive imprintable material and wherein the apparatus includes meansfor applying an imprinting signal to the carrier members to display theindicia to be carried by the carrier members.

[0021] In a further form, the carrier members may be adapted to carryother physically applied images representing playing card indicia. Suchimages may be applied by chemical means or by a light source and may beremoved by a reverse process to provide the carrier members for reuse.

[0022] The carrier members in a further form may comprise or incorporateelectronic circuitry which includes a re-programmable memory and adisplay device such as a liquid crystal display or LED display. Theindicia for display by the carrier members may be programmed by externalprogramming means into the memories of respective carrier members fordisplay and use of the carrier members as cards in playing a card gameor gaming cards or pieces in other games. The indicia for display aresuitably derived randomly as above. Carrier members of this type maythen be reused by simply reprogramming the memories with furtherrandomly derived card indicia.

[0023] In yet a further form, the indicia carried by the carrier membersmay be read from a reader to be displayed on a monitor or other displaymeans as playing cards, gaming card or other playing pieces. In thisconfiguration, the carrier members may be in the form of electronicchips, cards or other members which carry electronic or magnetic storagemeans which may store the indicia or a representation of the indicia.The indicia or an electronic representation of the indicia may be storedin, or programmed into the storage means of the carrier members by anysuitable external application means which may comprise an electronic ormagnetic transducer. The indicia or representation thereof for storagein the storage means is suitably derived or selected randomly.

[0024] The stored indicia or representations thereof stored on thecarrier members may be read or determined by any suitable reading meanswhich can read the indicia and display the indicia on suitable displaymeans such as a monitor or other visual display unit. For reuse, thestorage means of the carrier members may either have the indicia storedtherein removed in a separate device or alternatively, the storage meansmay be simply reprogrammed such that storage of new indicia informationwill replace the previously stored indicia information.

[0025] The indicia may be randomly derived from any number of pre-storedindicia. In the case of playing cards, the card indicia may be randomlyderived or selected from one or more card decks. The method andapparatus allows for the use of carrier members or playing cards for anycard game using any number of card decks. Any number of card decks mayselected from which the card indicia may be randomly selected. Selectionof the number of card decks may be undertaken by means of an electroniccontroller on the apparatus which may be programmed or switchable toselect the number of decks to be used.

[0026] The randomly derived or selected indicia applied or applicable toeach card or playing piece may if desired be recorded and displayed on adisplay device on the apparatus or on another form of display forexample a video wall to enable other persons to ascertain the cards orpieces being dealt. Thus for example, the dealers cards can bemonitored. This information can also be transmitted electronically andinterfaced to other computer or storage devices for future reference forexample to allow players or gaming authorities to check the value orindicia of particular cards or pieces which have been dealt over aperiod of time. Furthermore, the randomly derived or selected indiciacan be transmitted to locations remote from the point of selection toenable players to play a game

1-38. (cancelled)
 39. A method of supplying playing or gaming cards orpieces for playing a card game or other game, said method includingsteps of providing a plurality of carrier members, applying indicia toeach said carrier member whereby each said carrier member defines aplaying or gaming card or piece and such that said indicia are displayedtemporarily by said carrier members, each said indicia applied to eachsaid carrier member being derived or selected randomly and defining theidentity of a said playing or gaming card or piece, and supplying saidcarrier members for use as playing or gaming cards or pieces in a cardgame or other game.
 40. A method as claimed in claim 39 wherein saidapplied indicia define the identity of said playing or gaming card orpiece and further including a step of removing said applied indicia fromsaid carrier members to enable said carrier members to be reused. 41.Apparatus for supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing acard game or other game, said apparatus including means for storing aplurality of carrier members, means for randomly generating or derivingindicia defining the identity of a playing or gaming card or piece,means for applying said indicia to each said carrier member whereby eachsaid carrier member defines a playing or gaming card or piece and suchthat said indicia are displayed temporarily by said carrier members, andmeans for supplying said carrier members for use in playing a card gameor other game.
 42. Apparatus as claimed in claim 41 wherein said appliedindicia define the identity of a said playing or gaming card or piece,and including means for removing said applied indicia from said carriermembers to enable said carrier members to be reused.
 43. A method forreusing playing or gaming cards or pieces, said method including stepsof providing a supply of a plurality of carrier members adapted to carryindicia defining the identity of a playing or gaming card or piece,randomly deriving or selecting indicia to be carried by respective saidcarrier members and causing respective carrier members to displayrespective said randomly derived or selected indicia whereby each saidcarrier member defines a playing or gaming card or piece, and removingsaid displayed indicia from said carrier members whereby said carriermembers may be reused.
 44. Apparatus for supplying and reusing playingor gaming cards or pieces, said apparatus including means for storing aplurality of carrier members adapted to carry indicia defining theidentity of a playing or gaming card or piece, and means for applying tosaid carrier members, randomly derived or selected said indicia wherebyeach said carrier member forms a said playing or gaming card or pieceand means for removing said applied indicia from said carrier members.45. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein said playing or gaming cardsor pieces comprise physical playing or gaming cards or pieces 46.Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein said playing or gaming cards orpieces comprise visual representations of playing or gaming cards orpieces as displayed on a monitor or other display device.
 47. Apparatusaccording to claim 42 wherein said means for applying the indicia to therespective carrier members comprises means for printing the indicia tocreate an image of the indicia.
 48. Apparatus according to claim 47wherein said means for removing said indicia comprises means forcleaning or wiping said image from a said carrier member.
 49. Apparatusaccording to claim 47 wherein said means for removing said indiciacomprises chemical means or a light source.
 50. Apparatus according toclaim 47 wherein said indicia is provided on stickers or other removablemembers and wherein said means for applying the indicia to therespective carrier members comprise means for physically applying saidremovable stickers or members carrying the indicia to the carriermembers.
 51. Apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said means forremoving the indicia comprise means for physically removing the stickersor other members carrying the indicia.
 52. Apparatus according to claim47 wherein said carrier members carry a light sensitive material andwherein said indicia are displayed by subjecting the light sensitivematerial to a light source.
 53. Apparatus according to claim 52 whereinsaid light sensitive material comprises a photochromatic coating andwherein said indicia are displayed when exposed to a light patterncorresponding to said indicia.
 54. Apparatus according to claim 52wherein said light sensitive material responds to a particular lightpolarization to display particular card indicia.
 55. Apparatus accordingto claim 52 wherein said light sensitive material is sensitive to lightof a particular frequency or frequencies.
 56. Apparatus according toclaim 52 wherein said image only appears for a certain period of timesuch that when re-exposed to a different light pattern, a new imageshowing a new indicia is displayed on the carrier members.
 57. Apparatusaccording to claim 52 wherein said image is removed by exposing thelight sensitive material to light.
 58. Apparatus according to claim 47wherein said carrier members carry a magnetically sensitive materialwhich when subject to a magnetic field of a particular pattern willdisplay indicia corresponding to that pattern.
 59. Apparatus accordingto claim 58 wherein re-exposure of said magnetically sensitive materialto a magnetic field of a different pattern corresponding to differentindicia causes the display of said different indicia on said carriermember.
 60. Apparatus according to claim 47 wherein said carrier memberscarry a thermo chromatic material and wherein said apparatus comprisesmeans for subjecting said carrier members to heat of a patterncorresponding to indicia to be displayed.
 61. Apparatus according toclaim 60 wherein said indicia fades after a period of time or may beremoved by subjecting said material to heat of a different pattern. 62.Apparatus according to claim 47 wherein said carrier members carry anoptically responsive imprintable material and wherein said apparatusincludes means for applying an imprinting signal to said carrier membersto display said indicia.
 63. Apparatus according to claim 47 whereinsaid carrier members comprise electronic circuits including are-programmable memory and a display device for displaying said indicia.64. Apparatus according to claim 63 and including means for externallyprogramming said member for displaying indicia on said display device.65. Apparatus according to claim 41 and including means for reading anddisplaying on display means indicia carried by said carrier members. 66.Apparatus according to claim 65 wherein said carrier members carryelectronic or magnetic storage means for storing said indicia or arepresentation of said indicia, and wherein said apparatus includesmeans for externally programming said storage means for storing saidindicia or a representation of said indicia.
 67. Apparatus according toclaim 66 and including means for removing said stored indicia orrepresentation thereof or reprogramming said storage means with newindicia or representations thereof.
 68. Apparatus according to claim 41wherein said indicia applied to said carrier members comprise cardindicia whereby said carrier members define playing cards and whereinsaid apparatus includes means for selecting the number of decks of cardsfrom which said card indicia may be randomly derived or selected. 69.Apparatus according to claim 41 and including means for transmitting anddisplaying said randomly derived or selected indicia at a remotelocation.
 70. Carrier members for use as playing or gaming cards orpieces for playing card or other games, said carrier members beingadapted to carry indicia whereby each said carrier member defines a saidplaying or gaming card or piece, said indicia carried by each saidcarrier member defining the identity of a playing or gaming card orpiece, said indicia being displayed temporarily by said carrier memberssuch that said carrier members are capable of carrying respectivedifferent indicia whereby said carrier members may define differentplaying or gaming cards or pieces.
 71. Carrier members according toclaim 70 and defining physical said playing or gaming cards or playingpieces.
 72. Carrier members according to claim 70 wherein said indiciacarried by the respective carrier members identify respective playing orgaming cards or pieces corresponding to the indicia carried by thecarrier members.
 73. Carrier members according to claim 71 wherein saidcarrier members comprise blank cards of the size and configuration ofconventional playing cards or gaming cards.
 74. Carrier membersaccording to claim 71 in the form of playing pieces having an area orregion which can carry identifying indicia.
 75. Carrier membersaccording to claim 74, further including display means for displayingsaid indicia.
 76. Carrier members according to claim 75, furtherincluding reprogrammable memory means for storing indicia informationfor display by said display means.